Chuck Gould wrote:
On Nov 29, 9:52�pm, "William Andersen" wrote:
So, why aren't the deck plates identified?
I've read about these mistakes before and never understood why things aren't
clearly labeled, especially when having enough money to own a boat doesn't
mean you have any technical aptitude or interest.

"Chuck Gould" wrote in message

...



Don't know about most days, but today there is no doubt just who's the
dumbest guy in the NG. �Yours truly.
Thought I'd move the boat from my covered slip over to the yacht club
dock this afternoon. About a half hour's run.
En route, I began calculating how long it had been since last taking
on a load of fuel.
"I'm probably OK," I thought. "But maybe I'll stop off at the fuel
dock and get 20 gallons or so just for insurance. I'll fuel up
seriously next time I'm outside the locks and can get B20."
Pulled up to the local fuel dock. $3.99 per gallon for diesel. No big
deal, $80 bucks worth and I'll be certain of having more than enough
aboard for the upcoming lighted boats parades.
"In fact", I thought, "I'll put it all in the starboard tank. The trim
is a little heavy to port right now, and that will level things off
quite nicely."
"Hello, Chuck" says the fuel dock guy.
"Hi, Dave. I'm only going to put 20 gallons or so in the starboard
tank, just to
make sure I've got enough to do the Special People's Cruise and the
parade."
"No problem."
I uncrew the deck plate and begin filling the tank. At about 14 or 15
gallons, I'm hearing fuel in the vent line. "Impossible! I need a lot
more fuel than that, I've got to be down at least 100 gallons in this
150-gallon tank what the heck?"
Oh.......*That's* the heck!


Both bronze plates are the same size and are unlabeled. The word
"Diesel" is cast into the collar around the fuel fill, while the
collar around the pump out cap is plain. It was hard to tell them
apart in the dark, but there was no excuse for the mistake after
owning the boat for as many years as I have. It was simply a
mistake,,,,,,,,,and anybody can make one.

I'm thinking of painting the fuel fill plate green, to match the
diesel hose.


Early last season a professional captain was delivering a new $350,000
express cruiser with 10 hours on the three engines to its owners in
another port. He filled up the tanks with gasoline before leaving.
Whoops. He filled up the water tanks with gasoline.

The selling dealer and the captain paid for replumbing the entire fresh
water system in the boat, to the tune of $35,000, but the smell was
still there and their lawyers suggested a full settlement. So the
insurance companies ended up replacing the boat with a brand new one.
The boat with the smell was sold off recently for about $75,000,
presumably to someone with a less sensitive sniffer.